Softball

Baltimore, MD- After rainy conditions pushed back the first day of the UMBC Retriever Classic, the Bears came out this afternoon and went 1-1, which included a 4-1 loss to Canisius followed by a 2-1 victory over host UMBC. Sophomore Stephanie Thompson carried the offense with a 3-for-5 performance from the plate, as Kate Strobel and Jen Kries each added two hits as the Bears move to 2-3-1 overall this season.

Canisius gained a 1-0 lead over the Bears in the second inning after Katie Lancellotti hit an RBI single to bring home Lizzy Gatto. Senior Kristie Chin held the Griffins scoreless for the next two innings before Canisius put another run on the board in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Lauren Hope doubled to center field and a single by Kerry Ulmer brought in the runner to lead Canisius to a 2-0 edge over the Bears.

The Bears put three runners on base in the top of the sixth after Kries singled down the right field line and Danielle Palms singled to shortstop. After two outs, Kristi Munoz earned a walk to load the bases, but the Bears couldn't bring in a run ending the inning with a strikeout.

Canisius answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to gain a 4-0 lead, but the Bears were able to tally a run in the seventh to end the game, 4-1. Strobel started off the inning with a single down the left field line, and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. With one out, Avery Silverstein doubled to left field and after another a passed ball Strobel crossed the plate to get the Bears on the scoreboard.

Chin received the loss on the mound after pitching six innings giving up eight hits and four runs (three earned) and striking out three batters. Kries, Palms, Thompson, Strobel and Silverstein combined for the Bears' five hits this afternoon, with Strobel earning the lone run.

In game two vs. the Retrievers, Brown got the bats rolling early scoring runs in both the second and third to earn a 2-1 win over UMBC. The Bears rallied with two ours in the second when Strobel singled through the right side and went on to steal second. Then, Trish Melvin singled to left field to bring home Strobel to take an early 1-0 lead.

In the third, Thompson singled up the middle and advanced to second base on a passed ball, and Alyssa Caplan smacked a single to right field to score Thompson to tally Brown's second run of the game.

But UMBC answered right back in the bottom of the third when Ashley Scroggin started off the inning with a homerun to center field. The Retrievers went on to load the bases, but Melvin finished the job at the mound to end the inning.

Chin came in to relieve Melvin with two runners on base in the fourth inning, and finished the game without allowing UMBC another run.

Chin earned the win at the mound for the Bears and allowed just one hit in four innings. She also walked just one batter and struck out two. In the three innings Melvin pitched, she gave up a hit and a run, and walked four.

Thompson led the Bears offense going 2-for-3 with one run scored, as both Caplan and Strobel went 1-for-3.